NEWS & ARTICLES

[Photo: ADRA Syria] The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is stepping up emergency response efforts to assist victims of the powerful earthquake that struck southern Türkiye (Turkey) and north-west Syria just before sunrise on Monday, February 6. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake and over 140 aftershocks devastated the region near Nurdagl and Gaziantep, injuring more […]

Who could have imagined any joy amidst the horror and destruction caused by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake along the border of Turkey and Syria three days ago on Monday, February 6, 2023? Yet, a day after, as rescue workers desperately searched under rubble to find survivors, a newborn baby girl was pulled out alive. Whilst […]

On Thursday, February 2, 2023, Kendalwood Seventh-day Adventist Church, located in Whitby, suspended its highly successful food bank operations to comply with a local bylaw order first issued in March 2022. “We had to suspend operations while we consider how to move forward,” said Pastor Jason Levy. “It’s painful, like the initial stages of grief, […]

My reaction had always been to reject the invitation. After the long wait times of modern air travel, why should I give up my seat on a flight and take a later one? Apparently, most people share my opinion because whenever an airline call for volunteers because of an overbooked flight, there is no mad […]

January 21, 2023, was Religious Liberty Day. A day that celebrates the freedom to worship and practice one’s faith. Why should this matter to the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Many may not have heard of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) department of the General Conference (GC). Yet, this department, like all the rest, is […]

Let me tell you a story. Shortly after the new pastor arrived at the church, he was forced to make a statement to the congregation. Since his arrival, he had been approached a few times by some members who, he felt, were attempting to ingratiate themselves with him. They were attempting to draw him into […]

On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, a six-member team from the Ontario Conference office joined Habitat for Humanity in the building of a new home in the village of Hastings, Ontario. Office staff, Sarah Gouda, Juvey Puranen and Ruth Weidner, along with directors, Maria McClean and Elizabeth and Orlando Pule, volunteered to spend a day painting, […]

On November 20, 2022, the Seventh-day Adventist Board of Directors appointed Ontario Conference president, Pastor Mansfield Edwards as coordinator for Chaplain Ministries in Canada. The board also appointed Ontario Conference Women’s Ministries director, Pastor Elizabeth Pule, as coordinator for Women’s Ministries in Canada. Pastor Edwards has been engaged in chaplaincy services for many years. Even […]

November 12, 2022, marked a special milestone for Richmond Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church as it celebrated its 60th anniversary. The congregation, including former members, community dignitaries and Ontario Conference leaders, celebrated with a morning of worship and thanksgiving. Later, they mingled over lunch and beyond, reminiscing about past events, laughing, and making future plans with […]

On Sunday, November 27, 2022, the Ontario Conference Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Stewardship and Church Planting director, Pastor Gerry Pasikatan. He will be moving to Alberta where he will be a pastor for two multicultural congregations. Since September 2017, Pastor Gerry, as everyone knows him, has served as Stewardship director for the […]

At nine-thirty, on Sunday morning, November 6, 2022, the administration and directors of the Ontario Conference of Seventh-day Adventists met virtually with the boards from all congregations in Eastern Ontario. It was the first of eleven 75-minute meetings that are being held throughout the month of November on Sabbath afternoons and Sunday mornings as a […]

After two years of meeting online, Ontario Conference workers joyfully reunited for an in-person workers’ meeting in Hamilton from September 18-20. Pastors, Bible workers, teachers, directors, support staff and their families came from near and far (as far as Sioux lookout!) for a few days of worship, fellowship, learning and fun. Robert Greaves (pastor, Ottawa, […]

When you hear “Camp Frenda,” what do you think of first? A picturesque lake, tree-lined paths, swimming, horseback riding, waterskiing and other outdoor adventures? Friendships with peers from across the province? A chance to participate in activities not available at home? Most would concur with Camp Frenda Director Pastor James Rooney, who described his childhood […]

As Christians, we believe that God created the Earth and us and has entrusted us to care for the planet and each other. What practical things can we do at home to care for the Earth’s environment? Before you step into action, pray individually and with your family about what God desires you to do […]

Photo Credit: Karine E. Joseph – kejphoto.com On March 26, the People Matter Project, in partnership with ADRA Canada, hosted an Emergency Relief Benefit Concert for those affected by the war in Ukraine. All of the donations raised were directed to ADRA Canada to support their relief efforts in and around Ukraine. When news broke […]

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. Edward Everett Hale “What can we do?” As the Russia-Ukraine war started on February 24 raged on, Ukrainian Elita Carrasco, whose parents are […]

On day one of Ontario Conference’s virtual Mission and Leadership Summit (Friday and Sabbath, March 4 and 5), Pastor Alina van Rensburg quoted this challenging statement from leading congregational researcher Scott Cormode. Shockingly, she noted, he made this statement “before 2020, when our world and church were turned upside down by a global pandemic.” All […]

On December 11, 2021, an intimate group of friends, family and colleagues gathered at Really Living Centre in Hamilton for Ontario Conference’s first ordination since 2019. Bad weather did not prevent them from supporting Pastors Andrew Thomas (Ruth Church), R. J. Becbec (then-Scarborough, now Barrie Church), Rui Oliveira (Niagara and St. Catharine’s Churches) and Kirk […]

Ontario Conference’s Worship that Connects Summit, Friday, December 10, and Sabbath, December 11, 2021, redefined worship, dispelled myths and facilitated a worship renewal. Its thesis was that true worship is not a weekly event; it’s a lifestyle. Moreover, worship is foundational to “Connecting Like Jesus.” As Mansfield Edwards, president, explained, “The God we encounter in […]

Last April, New York Times writer Adam Grant suggested that the dominant emotion of 2021 was languishing. Languishing isn’t depression or burnout; instead, it’s “feel[ing] somewhat joyless and aimless.” It’s having a sense of “stagnation and emptiness.” Whether languishing or sliding down the slippery slope to depression, youth appear to be most at risk for […]

On Friday, March 4, and Sabbath, March 5, Ontario Conference is hosting a province-wide Mission and Leadership Summit. It will run from 6:30-8:30 pm on Friday, and 4-7 pm on Sabbath, Eastern time. As in 2021, our primary mission this year will be “Connecting Like Jesus” and making disciples for Him; however, in 2022, we […]

In a world where breaking news is often violent and tragic and the COVID-19 menace seems determined to stay, it is worth investing in our capacity to be kind and generous to our fellow human beings. In the U.S. and Canada, there is a day set aside called Random Acts of Kindness Day. In Canada, […]

This year, we introduced the theme of “Connecting Like Jesus” as a vehicle for becoming a conference of only growing and multiplying churches. Our first-ever virtual camp meeting and ministries convention (June 29 – July 3, 2021) successfully conveyed that, to fulfill the gospel commission, we must first connect with God, then with others, like […]

The second virtual Society of Adventist Communicators Conference (Oct. 17-19) gave attendees from across the North American Division more tools to connect like Jesus through media and communications. In the final keynote speech on the 19th, titled “Connecting Across Our Differences.” Pastor Joanne Cortes of Beltsville Seventh-day Adventist Church (Washington, D.C., area) shared some gems […]